CVE-2026-43998
In 3.10.5, NodeVM's require.root path restriction can be bypassed using filesystem symlinks, allowing sandboxed code to load modules from outside the allowed root directory in host context.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (0.72%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
vm2 is an open source vm/sandbox for Node.js. In 3.10.5, NodeVM's require.root path restriction can be bypassed using filesystem symlinks, allowing sandboxed code to load modules from outside the allowed root directory in host context. Because path validation uses path.resolve() (which does not dereference symlinks) but module loading uses Node's native require() (which does), an attacker can load arbitrary host-realm modules and achieve remote code execution. This vulnerability is fixed in 3.11.0.
- CVSS 3.1
- 8.5 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
- EPSS
- 0.72% probability · 52th percentile
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-59
- Affected
- vm2 project/vm2
- Source
- security-advisories@github.com
References
- https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-cp6g-6699-wx9cExploit, Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:50850
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-43998
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2477206
- https://github.com/patriksimek/vm2/security/advisories/GHSA-cp6g-6699-wx9cExploit, Mitigation, Vendor Advisory
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-43998.json
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA. Refreshed daily.